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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Ah, the internet...

Most people I know (well, horse people, at least) frequent
horse sites while wasting time online. There is no better time waster than a
good horse forum.

Of course, the not so good ones can be vastly entertaining
as well, assuming that you can stay out of the fray when confronted by such
epic wrongness on the internet. You know what they say about getting into an
argument on the internet….

As for me, I’m a member of Chronicle of the Horse Forums,
aka COTH, which can be filled with knowledgeable horse people who sometimes
support each other or engage in massive fiery train wrecks, usually about
natural horsemanship (Parelli is guaranteed to bring out some namecalling and
the every present condemnation of “read for comprehension” comment) or the
future of showing and why the old days were so much better than now and those
youngn’s have no idea how bad it is now. On a good day, I learn something new or
at least have a tidbit to mull over for a while.

I’m not a member of Ultimate Dressage (aka UDBB), however on
a slow day, I like to lurk. Which basicly means that I sit back and watch the
firey train wrecks happen –Rollkur, drawreins (razorblades in the hands of
monkeys), modern dressage (Klassical is soooo much better! Ask the Spanish Riding
School!), showing (Riders now are ONLY about the MONEY…They don’t care if they
ruin horses to win!)- without the temptation or ability to jump in and add my
two cents. That probably does wonders for my sanity…

Sure, there are
threads asking for help with the SI or how to stop a young horse from falling
out on a circle. The replies always include “Is your horse IFV”, “Check your
saddle”, It’s ulcers/kissing spine” then more advice than one person can
handle- calling all basic tenants and beliefs that the OP holds into question. At that point, if the OP (original poster, for those of you not in the
know) chooses to do anything but make an offering at the alter of the ODG (either Original Dressage
Gods or Old Dead Guys, depending on your point of view), it starts to morph into
the runaway train loaded with dynamite. Time to sit back and enjoy the
trainwreck.

For those brave enough to post an actual picture… Watch out.
Middle aged keyboard jockeys will jump down your throat as soon as they spot
anything incorrect. Young warmblood losing balance? “The horrors, he’s
neurologic!” Rider’s hands get wide? “STOP
THE ROLLKUR!” Horse displays any naughtyness or disobedience? “You’re training
is ruining that animal! You should ride with [insert some classical fav here].
I do, now we only ride with sunshine and happiness” And heaven help you is your
horse EVER falls behind the vertical or you just want to hear good things.

This thread is basically for members to post updates about
their 6 year olds; where they are in training, small brags, big setbacks,
whathaveyou. Not even one page into it, a cat-fight starts because someone wants
to ‘just point out a few things’ to another poster. Oy vey. Hand basket of crazy, am I right?